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The Mighty 2007 BMW M5 E61 Touring With 510 HP Vs. One Golf Ball on an F1 Track

One former F1 track, a 2007 BMW M5 E61 Touring with an S85 V10 305 CI (4999 cc) engine capable of producing 518 ps (510 hp) with 384 lb-ft (520 Nm) of torque, versus one golf ball on a golf course. What could go wrong? Let’s find out.
2007 BMW M5 E61 vs. golfer 8 photos
Photo: Screenshot from Drivetribe YouTube Channel
2007 BMW M5 E61 vs. golfer2007 BMW M5 E61 vs. golfer2007 BMW M5 E61 vs. golfer2007 BMW M5 E61 vs. golfer2007 BMW M5 E61 vs. golfer2007 BMW M5 E61 vs. golfer2007 BMW M5 E61 vs. golfer
In its heyday, the M5 Touring was the fastest station wagon ever produced, the only one with an F1-inspired V10 engine under the hood.

Over 20,500 M5s were built using this engine, but just 1,000 of them were E61 Touring models. The M5 had two modes of running. A 405-hp mode which you would typically use for daily driving. But when you would have hit the M button, all of its wild 507 ponies would have been set loose from the stables.

Even though the spec sheet says it has a top speed of 155 mph (250 kph), there have been multiple accounts where the needle pointed to the 190 mph (306 kph) mark. The acceleration is not quite F1-worthy, but still respectable at 4.8 seconds from 0-62 mph (0-100 kph).

Also notable is that this M5 had its air intake system changed with a bigger and louder one made of carbon fiber. That bumped up its performance to 518 ps (510 hp).

The BMW was driven by none other than Richard Hammond. His opponent was a famous YouTube golfer that would propel the ball forward using regular golf clubs.

As for the field of battle, the Aintree Motor Racing Circuit that doubles as a golf course. Built in 1954, the 3,000-mile (4,828-km) circuit was host to no less than five Formula One British Grand Prix in 1955, 1957, 1959, 1961, and 1962. Upon closer inspection, I would say that its shape is its most interesting feature.

The rules of the race were simple. The golfer had to put the ball in the hole 418 yards (383 meters) away as the crow flies, next to the finish line of the track before Hammond completed two laps.

Starting from the same spot, they both went off to the races. While the BMW's wheels were screeching on the track, the golfer sent the ball at least 270 yards (247 meters) with the drive. Not a hole in one sadly, which would have won the so-called race.

On his second hit, the golfer sent the ball a bit too far to the left, and it put him at a slight disadvantage. However, right after the car went around the last corner and punched it towards the finish line, the sound of the golf ball being putted marked the obvious winner of this completely useful and scientific race.

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About the author: Codrin Spiridon
Codrin Spiridon profile photo

Codrin just loves American classics, from the 1940s and ‘50s, all the way to the muscle cars of the '60s and '70s. In his perfect world, we'll still see Hudsons and Road Runners roaming the streets for years to come (even in EV form, if that's what it takes to keep the aesthetic alive).
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